It’s not always easy to put feelings into words.
That’s especially true while in recovery for drugs or alcohol. You might feel guilt, hope, loss, frustration, happiness, fear and elation—all in one day.
It’s easy to see why, for many of us, conventional therapy can at times be challenging. You just can’t quite put into words the totality of what you’re feeling.
Why Art Therapy can be a Valuable Tool in Recovery
Art therapy is a way to express emotions without words. Under the guidance of a trained art therapist, you’ll create using paint, ink, clay or other media. Doing so can help you work through your many feelings—and it can also provide a sense of order and control that can be hard to come by while in recovery.
6 Benefits of Art Therapy During Addiction Recovery
According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy can be helpful in the following ways:
- Art therapy supports treatment goals
- Art therapy promotes insight into why you’re thinking and feeling what you are
- It fosters greater self-esteem and self-awareness
- Art therapy cultivates emotional resilience you may not have had before treatment
- It helps reduce and resolve conflicts and distress you haven’t been able to cope with before
- It improves cognitive and sensory-motor functions impacted by addiction
It’s worth pointing out that art therapy can also be fun, even if you don’t consider yourself to be artistically talented. And the goal of rehab isn’t just to get clean; it’s to discover how to enjoy life again.
What Art Therapy is Like at The Raleigh House
Everyone’s addiction and experiences are different, which means not every person will respond to a cookie-cutter treatment plan. This is why we offer holistic treatments like art therapy to help people explore their addiction and communicate in ways they may not be able to do in group or individual therapy.
Our clients spend an hour to an hour and a half each week engaging in art therapy projects like clay, painting, drawing and various arts and crafts. These guided art sessions help you focus on the moment, so you can practice greater mindfulness and self-awareness.
Through these art therapy sessions, you learn coping skills and communicate feelings caused by addiction and trauma, which ultimately help you heal and enter recovery.
Benefits of Art Therapy at The Raleigh House
At The Raleigh House, we’re proud of both the environment we’ve created and our evidence-based treatment led by our experienced team. We’re here to help you get sober, but that’s just the start. Our ultimate goal is to help you live your best life, ready for the challenges and joys that lie ahead. Fill out our form or contact us today to learn more about our 90-day drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs.